Loss of Smell and Taste After COVID-19: What to Expect

A sudden loss of smell or taste became one of the signature symptoms of COVID-19 early in the pandemic and for many people it remains one of the more unusual and disorientating parts of having the virus. While most people recover within weeks, the picture is more complicated for a meaningful minority and it's worth understanding what's typical and what isn't.

How common is it?

Loss or distortion of smell and taste has been reported by a substantial proportion of people with COVID-19, particularly with earlier variants of the virus, though rates have varied across different strains as the virus has evolved. It's listed as one of the recognised core symptoms of COVID-19 alongside fever and a new continuous cough.

Typical recovery timeline

The reassuring headline figure is that more than 75 to 80% of people who lose their sense of taste and smell to COVID-19 recover it within a few months, with many people regaining their senses within around 60 days. For most people, this is a temporary, if unpleasant, symptom that resolves on its own without any specific treatment being necessary.

When loss of smell lasts longer

Recovery isn't universal or guaranteed on that timeline for everyone. Around one in ten people who lose their sense of smell go on to experience persistent smell loss lasting at least eight weeks and sometimes considerably longer. Some studies have found smell impairment still being reported by a notable proportion of patients at the six-month mark, which is a meaningfully different experience to the majority who recover within weeks.

What is parosmia?

Parosmia is a distortion of smell rather than a complete loss, where familiar smells, coffee, cooked meat, or certain fruits are commonly reported examples, become unpleasant, "off" or unrecognisable compared with how they used to smell. It typically emerges two to three months after the initial loss of smell, as part of the recovery process rather than a separate, unrelated problem. A related phenomenon, phantosmia, involves smelling something that isn't actually present at all.

Is parosmia a bad sign?

Somewhat counterintuitively, no. Parosmia is generally understood by researchers as a sign that the smell nerves are in the process of regenerating and reconnecting, rather than a sign that recovery has stalled or gone wrong. Some research has specifically identified parosmia as an independent predictor of eventually achieving a full recovery, even though the experience itself can be genuinely unpleasant and disruptive to daily life, particularly around eating and enjoying food, while it lasts.

Smell training

Smell training, a structured practice of deliberately and repeatedly sniffing a small set of distinct, strong scents, such as rose, lemon, clove and eucalyptus, twice a day over a period of months, has been shown to help some people recover their sense of smell more effectively than doing nothing. It's a low-risk, low-cost approach that's widely recommended for people with persistent post-COVID-19 smell loss, though results vary between individuals.

Practical safety considerations

A reduced or absent sense of smell has genuine everyday safety implications worth being aware of, including a reduced ability to detect gas leaks, smoke from a fire, or food that's gone off. Taking simple precautions, such as checking food expiry dates carefully, using a smoke alarm you trust is working and being extra cautious around gas appliances, is sensible while your sense of smell remains affected.

When to see a GP

If your loss of smell hasn't improved after a few months, or if parosmia is significantly affecting your ability to eat well or is causing considerable distress, it's worth discussing with your GP. They can rule out other causes and may refer you to an ear, nose and throat specialist or a smell and taste clinic for more structured support, including formal smell training programmes.

The emotional impact is real too

It's easy to underestimate how disruptive a distorted or absent sense of smell can be until you experience it. Beyond the practical safety concerns, many people describe a genuine loss of pleasure in eating, difficulty enjoying time with family around food and mealtimes and a broader sense of disconnection from everyday life that isn't always taken seriously by people who haven't experienced it themselves. Some people with prolonged parosmia describe finding certain previously enjoyed foods actively repulsive, which can affect appetite and nutrition if it isn't managed.

If this is affecting your mood or eating patterns significantly, it's worth mentioning explicitly to your GP alongside the physical symptoms, since support is available and this impact is increasingly well recognised by clinicians who treat post-COVID-19 smell and taste disorders. Patient support groups and charities focused on smell loss can also be a useful source of practical coping strategies and reassurance from people who've been through the same experience and come out the other side of it.

A quick recap

Most people who lose their sense of smell or taste to COVID-19 recover within a matter of weeks to a couple of months, but around one in ten experience more persistent loss and parosmia, a distortion rather than loss of smell, is a common and generally positive part of the recovery process for some people. Smell training and, where needed, specialist referral can help those whose recovery is taking longer.

Frequently asked questions

How long is too long to wait before seeing a doctor about lost smell?

If your sense of smell hasn't started improving after a few months, that's a reasonable point to raise it with your GP, though there's no strict cut-off and you can seek advice sooner if it's significantly affecting your life.

Does everyone who gets parosmia eventually recover fully?

Not everyone, but parosmia has been identified as a positive sign associated with a higher likelihood of eventual full recovery compared with smell loss that hasn't started returning or distorting at all.

Can loss of smell come back suddenly after months of nothing?

Yes, recovery doesn't always follow a smooth, gradual path and some people notice sudden improvements after a long period of little change, particularly when engaging in structured smell training.

Is loss of smell after COVID-19 the same as a normal cold-related loss of smell?

They can feel similar day to day, but COVID-19-related smell loss has been studied specifically and shown a distinct pattern of parosmia and prolonged cases compared with typical cold-related smell loss, which usually resolves more quickly and predictably.

Does smell training work for everyone?

No, results vary between individuals, but it's considered a low-risk approach with a reasonable evidence base, which is why it's widely recommended as a first step for persistent post-COVID-19 smell loss.

Are there foods or scents that trigger parosmia more than others?

Coffee, meat, onion and garlic are commonly reported triggers for people with parosmia, though the specific pattern varies considerably from person to person and some find previously enjoyable foods become the most affected. Keeping a simple diary of trigger foods and drinks can help you and your GP identify patterns worth discussing and can also help you plan meals around foods that still taste acceptable while you're recovering, which can make a real, tangible practical difference to your day-to-day wellbeing and appetite during the more difficult early weeks of the overall recovery process.